10. Marcia Gay Harden as Lee Krasner in "Pollock" (2000)

Okay, an advance warning: this is the only supporting winner to crack the list, and it’s essentially a lead performance at that. Academy-endorsed biopics are rarely that generous to actors surrounding the showy subject role, but Harden’s furious performance as Jackson Pollock’s less celebrated artist wife is a fiery exception to Oscar’s bland roll-call of supportive spouses: going toe-to-toe with director-star Ed Harris in the title role, she lays bare the anger and desperation of playing the gifted second fiddle to a genius.

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Classics

Comments

Notify me when someone replies to my comment.

You are logged in

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

I couldn't disagree more about Hoffman's performance. You could literally feel the judgement pouring out of him with every syllable. There was no love for the person he was playing. I much preferred Jones' humane portrayal of Capote, and 'Infamous' is the better film for it. (Still features career-best from Bullock and a striking cameo from Paltrow to boot.)

With no hint of hyperbole, I believe Hoffman's performance here is the greatest we will see from any actor in a generation. Pitch-perfect in every aspect, and made even better by Miller's impeccable mise en scene. Whatup!